Potential-indicating device for signaling systems



POTENTIAL INDICATING DEVICE FOR SIGNALING SYS'IEIS Filed March 26. 19292 shins-sheet 2 =r- EI; 1.1. E

' gm g INVENTOR.

. H wydg TTORNEY Patented Mar. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEARTHUR H. TROGNEB, EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB, BY HESNE ASSIGN-KEN'IS, TO FEDERAL TELEGRAYH COMPANY, A CORPORATION 01' CALIFORNIA.

Application ille'd larch as, 1929. Serial Io. scopes.

My invention relates to voltage indicating devices employed in signalingsystems.

An object of my invention is to indicate the electromotive forcedistribution in sig- 5 naling systems.

obtain measurements of tential difierences and 5 are schematic diagramsshowin in a given portion of a igh frequency signaling system withoutchanging its characteristics.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the electricalcharacteristics of the otential indicating device and the provision orthe determination of relative values of potential without changing theposition of the indicatin device in respect to the circuit measure Abetter understanding of the potential indicating device of my inventioncan be had by referring to the specification following and to theaccompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1, 2 and 3 are schematicdiagrams showing the potential indicating device of my invention, Figshi t e operation of the potential indicatin evice of my invention andFigs. 6 and 7 s ow the structural features of one form of the potentialindicating device of my invention. In electrical systems in general andmore particularly in high frequency electrical systems it is frequentldesirable if not necessary to determine t e potential in differentcircuits or in various parts ofa circuit. When extremely high potentialsare employed the meters of the type generally otential circuits areunsuitable. A suita le indicating instrument similar to the movablevane, movable coil or other type of galvanometer would be of enormousdimensions. An indlcatin device capable of indicating highi5 potentiaenergy qluartz or silicate composition envelope enosing two electrodes.The envelope is evac- I uated of air and filled with an inert gas suchas neon, argon or krypton. The two electrodes are specially positionedin the envelope and associated with the source of potential to bemeasured. The gas is ionized by the energy from such a source and causesa luminous radiation the color of which depends upon the gas content.The length of separation between the electrodes largely determines thepotential necessary to produce ionization. Excitation from a potentialin excess of that necessary to roduce ionization of the gas causes a graual diminishing in sensitivity and luminous radiation. The otential bandto which response may be had 18 limited to the particularcharacteristics of the tube employed. Thus the tube will indicate apotential 01: 1000 volts for instance and will likewise indicate apotential of 2000v volts. If the articular tube employed is of the proer design to indicate a potential of 2000 v0 ts the tube will likewiseindicate a potential of 4000 volts. The potentials in excess of thepotential necessary to produce ionization cause a gradual diminishing ofthe glow discharge and the characteristics of the tube change in such amanner that the former potential necessary to produce ionization is nolonger the critical potential. Likewise the glow discharge tuberesponsive to potentials of the order of 5000 are seldom res onsive topotentials of the order of 100. he foregoing disadvantages andineflicient operational characteristics are overcome in the potentialindicating device of m invention, a better understanding of which can behad by referring to the accompanying drawings. 4 Figure 1 shows aschematic diagram of the potential indicating device of my invention emloyed in combination with a space radio ra iatmg system. The space radioradiating system includes inductance 5, antenna 5a and ground 56. Asource of high potentlal high equency energy 6 is associated with induc-7 points and member'f-andgroundbb. The jo eration of the glow dischargetubes 1, 2, 3 an 4 depen ds upon the value of potential between contact7 and ground 512. Should the potential difference be-of a loworderbetween these two lugs 44 connected to. jacks 31, 32 glow discharge tube1 would be energized. An increase of potential between contact member 7and ground 56 would be suflicient to energize tubes 2, 3 and 4 in likemanner in theorder named proportional to increasing values of potentialrequired to (prfiduce i'orii t erein. s.

zation of the inert gas containe a. concrete example, suppose that glowdischarge tube 3 has a cr tical ionizing potential and it is necessaryto impress a potential of tlnrorder. of 5000 volts across its twoelectrodes to start the glow discharge. Tube 4 would have acorrespondingly higher critical potential break down. A potentialdifference of 5000 volts across the electrodes of ,glow. discharge tubes1 and 2 would be excessive. Glow discharge tube, 3 would respond since.this,potential is suflieient to start ionization and cause a noticeableglow discharge. Tube 2 would have a much lower critical potential breakdown value and it shows a modification of the potential indicatingdevice ofmy invention. Correspondmg reference characters are emplo edthroughout all the drawings, In this modificationswitch members 8 and 9,having associated jacks 10 and-11, are employed in com bination withglow-discharge tubes 1, 2, 3 and 4. Switch members 8 and 9a re ada tedto selectively associate the energy with t e several tubes wherebylowestvalue required to produce ionization corresponds to the potentlal of theenergy associated with 'jacks 10 and 11. Switch members'S and 9 may becalibrated whereby the'potential of the energy through glow dischar etubes 1, 2, 3 and 4 required to give sufli cient glow discharge, may beascertained without readin the calibrated rating on the tube itself. 5much higher voltage than is necessaryto produce ionization causes damageto the tubes and may destroy the critical potential calibration. It istherefore advisable to begin the measurement with tube 4 so as to limitthe value of current and protect the lower tating meats? calibratedtubes from overload. This is e specially desirable in connection withthe tubes requiring a lower potential to produce ionization. Fig. 3shows another modification of the potential indicating device of my'invention. In this arrangementv glow discharge tubes 1, 2, 3 and-4 areadapted-to be selectively associated with source 6 and space radioradiating system 5, 5a, 5b.

Tubes 1, 2, 3 and 4 are sup orted on a rotatable framework 38 adapte tobe rotatedleg knobs 40, 40a whereby the terminals of t e I respectivetubes are associated with contact members 41, 41a. Contact members 41and 410 are electrically connected to jacks 42 and 42a.

Jacks 42 and 42a are in turn connected to the sourceofhi h potentialen-' erg Since tubes 1, 2,3 an 4 are mounted in t is manner, thedisturbance of the voltage distribution in the system is small. Any ofthe tubes'may be readily connected to or disconnected from the source ofenergy b rothe member 38. With the critical striking potentialcalibrated on each of the a several tubes-it is not difiicult toaccuratel and quickly determine the value of potentia Figs. 4 and 5 areschematic diagrams showingthe operation of the potential indicating I.

dBVlCG'Of my invention. The reference characters correspond to those ofFigs; 1, 2 and g 3. Glow discharge tubes 1, 2, 3 and 4 are adapted to beselectively associated with-radiatmg'circuit 5 at any point, say X, and

associated with ground 56 by means of conductive or capacitive couphng.In

the otential distribution is represente the otted line E. The antinodeor potential loop is not at the position X. The gas in glow dischargetube 2 may be ionized at the value of potential difference between X andround 56. The position of the rotatable rame'work is such as to connectthis tube in. thecircuit. The potential may not be however, ofsuflicient value to energize tube 3.

Fig. 5 shows a difierent distributlon of potential represented by E.Inthis particu ar case the antinode or potential loop is at the point Xwhich would cause a higher potential to energizethe tubes 1, 2, 3 an 4.The gas in glow discharge tube 3 may be 1on1zed at this value ofotential difference between X- and ground 5 ,however not of'sufiicientvalue to energize tube 4. The potential indicating .device remaining inthe same position the potential distribution may eas1 g be determined.The lar est glow'disc arge tube illuminated woul indicate the maximum 0-tential or antinode. With a fairknowle ge of the characteristics of thecircuit 5, 5b, the position of the antinode could be readily determinedby observing the largest tube which is ionized, knowing the maximumvalue of potential and reading the calibration from the ionized tube.

, Figs. 6 and"? show certain structural features of one form of thepotential indicating device of my invention. Glow discharge.

tubes 1, 2, 3, 4, 2a, 3a and 4a are connected to connecting jacks ateach end of container 19. Container 19 may be of metal or other materialand provided with individual compartments for each of the glow dischargetubes. Individual connecting jacks 20 are connected to the electrodes ofeach tube nearest these jacks while jacks 21 mounted in the opposite endof container 19 are connected to the remainin terminals of each of therespective tubes. in the illustration Fig. 6, the cover is removed fromcontainer 19. Felt or suitable metal shielding may be inserted betweeneach of the glow discharge tubes 1, 2, 3, 4, 2a, 3a and 4a.

Fig. 7 shows the potential indicating device of m invention with thecover or panel 23 place on the container 19. A window 22 is provided inpanel 23 whereby the ionization effect is visible and a scale 24 is.adjacent thereto on which the potential break down or criticalionization potentialof each tube is calibrated. This calibrationcorresponds to the calibration marked on the respectlve tubes referredto in the figures heretofore described.

By providing a plurality of glow discharge tubes having small capacityand calibrated accurately at the critical break down or strikingpotentials required for operation, it is possible to accuratel determinethe voltage distribution in a hig frequency circuit. It is essentialthat any arrangement provided for measuring the potential be such as notto materially disturb the normal potential distribution in the circuit.Any value of lumped capacitance or inductance will destroy thedistribution, and little information of value would result frommeasurement with a device having either an appreciable amount ofinductance or capacity.

I realize that many modifications of the potential indicating device ofmy invention are possible without departing from the spirit of myinvention and it is to be understood that no restrictions as to theembodiments of my invention shall be imposed by the foregoingspecification or accom anying drawings but only as defined in t 1e scopeof the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by {letters Patent of theUnited States is as folows:

1. A voltage indicating device for signal ing systems comprising incombination a plurality of glow discharge tubes, said glow dischargetubes requiring different values of electromotive force to causeionization, the electrodes of each tube selectively connected to anenergizing circuit and each of said tubes individually calibrated astothe critical operating electromotive force required for the respectivetube.

2. A voltage indicating device for signalin systems comprising incombination a plura ity of glow discharge tubes, said glow dischargetubes requiring different operating voltage potentials, means forselectively con necting the electrodes of each of said tubes with asource of voltage to be measured and said tubes calibrated as to theoperating voltage required for the respective tubes.

3. A voltage indicating device comprising in combination a plurality ofglow discharge tubes, each of said tubes comprising a transparentenvelope having an inert gas content and a pair of electrodes, saidtubes requiring different values of operating electromotive force andsaid values being calibrated on the respective tubes.

4. A voltage indicating device comprising in combination a plurality oftubes capable of giving off luminous radiations when excited by a sourceof electromotive force, each of said tubes comprising a transparentenvelope having an inert gas content and a air of electrodes, said tubesrequiring di erent values of operating electromotive force, said valuesof operating electromotive force identified with the respective tubesand means for selectively connecting said tubes to a source of highvoltage.

5. A voltage indicating device comprising in combination a plurality ofglow discharge tubes having individual electrodes selectively connectedto a source of high electromotive force, the operating votages of saidtubes being of different values and so calibrated on said tubes.

6. A voltage indicating device comprising in combination a plurality ofglow discharge tubes, said tubes requiring different operating voltages,said operating voltage havin been predetermined and said tubes so markeand means for selectively connecting the electrodes of said tubes with asource of high electromotive force whereby the potential of sald sourcemay be determined.

7. A voltage indicating device comprising in combination a plurality ofglow discharge tubes carried by a rotatable framework, each of saidtubes requiring different values of operating voltage, said valueshaving been predetermined with respect to said tubes and means forconnecting said tubes with a source of high electromotive force.

8. A voltage indicating device comprising i connecting said-tubes insaid system to indicate the potential difference 7 by the ionizationof aparticular tube.-

1o; Thecombination of a high frequency circuit, a glow discharge tube,and means for rotating said tube whereby said tube may beperiodicallyconnected to said circuit.

11. The combination of ahigh frequency circuit, a plurality of glowdischarge tubes and Switching eans .for selectively connectaid tubesthereto.

3 12. The combination of a. high frequency circuit, a plurality of glowdischarge tubes and means for' rotating said tubes for selectivelyconnecting said tubes to said source.

ARTHUR M. TROGNER.

